Three-card baccarat casino game

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards is disclosed. The game includes the step of each player making a play wager to participate in a three card baccarat game against a dealer hand. Each player optionally makes a bonus side bet wager on the occurrence of at least one predetermined winning three card bonus baccarat hand, the winning baccarat hand having a rank of at least one of an 8, 9 or three face cards. Each player and the dealer receive at least three cards to form a three card baccarat hand. The relative ranking of the hands is determined using modified baccarat rules. Players who placed an optional bonus side bet and received a predetermined winning three card bonus baccarat hand are paid a bonus payout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of gaming, particularly card gaming, and more particularly to card gaming variants of the game of Baccarat and rules for play and wagering on such a game.

2. Background of the Art

With the expansion of gaming and the increase in competition, it has become desirable in the gaming industry to offer players a wide range of games and to add excitement to older, well established games. Growth in slot machine popularity and the increase in the number of specialty games have resulted in the overall reduction in play of conventional games, especially more well-known casino games such as baccarat

The game of Baccarat is appealing to players because it is based on simple concepts and procedures that are readily understood. Casinos like the game because it is in the public domain and is free, is in demand and it requires relatively low overhead to facilitate and monitor each game. Casino operators are reluctant to replace a free-of-charge, income-generating Baccarat game table with a totally new and unproven game.

In conventional Baccarat or mini-baccarat, the rules for when a player and the banker must take a hit are well defined. Under the rules of the game, the player and banker hand takes or does not take a hit card. Each final hand is either a two or three card hand, which is dictated by the hitting rules of the game and the point count of the first two cards in each hand. The only decisions to be made by the player are whether to bet on the player hand, the banker hand or on a tie hand and the amount of the wager.

There are a number of variations of the basic game of baccarat. The game is sometimes referred to in its various forms as Baccarat-Chemin-de-Fer, Baccarat a deux tableaux, Mini-Baccarat, and the like. The rules may vary slightly, and rules may vary from casino to casino, but the underlying game is the same. The underlying game is a competition between the hands of two players, usually referred to as the banker hand and the player hand. All players at the table can place wagers, but only one player participates in the game by receiving a hand of cards. Both hands are dealt to designated “Banker” and “Player” positions on a central part of the layout. Initially, two cards are dealt to each of the participating player and the banker. Each initial or partial two-card hand is reviewed by the banker and the player. The results of the competition are determined by how close the point total (explained in detail later) is to a value of nine. Two card hands with a point total of 8 or 9 are naturals. Point totals are based on the added face value of the cards, with the values of the cards being Ace=1, 2=2, 3=3, 4=4, 5=5, 6=6, 7=7, 8=8, 9=9, 10=0, Jack=0, Queen=0, and King=0. Only the last digit of the sum of the point values of the cards is operative in the play of the game. For example, a total value of the cards (both with the original hand or partial hand) would be read as 10=0, 11=1, 12=2, 13=3, 14=4, 15=5, 16=6, 17=7, 18=8, 19=9, 20=0, etc. A player places a wager on the player's hand winning, the banker's hand winning or a tie. This is accomplished by placing the wager in a designated space for a wager on the banker's hand, the player's hand or a tie hand. A commission is usually extracted from the winning bets on the banker's hand (e.g., 5% of the winning bet on the banker's hand), because the banker usually wins more often than the player. No commissions are paid to the house when the player bets on the player hand. Depending on the odds provided by the house on a tie (usually from 8:1, 9:1 or 10:1), the house advantage is between 4.5% and 15%.

A typical standard prior art baccarat-type wagering game table layout 2 is shown in FIG. 1. The game table layout 2 has 14 player positions 4 numbered 1-3, 5-8, 9-12, 15-16 and 18. There is a distinct area 6 labeled P-L-A-Y-E-R-S for placement of wagers on the player hand and there is another distinct area 10 labeled B-A-N-K for placement of wagers on the banker hand. Area 14 is provided for placing tie wagers. Each player area 4 has its own individual play wager area 8, a bonus wager area 10, and a tie wager area 14. The layout 2 also includes a commission area 16, one bearing the number of each play position that can be used by the banker to drop markers, indicating a commission is due to the house. The layout also includes an area 18 designated for a chip tray. The layout 2 can also include other information such as casino logos, pay tables, table betting limits and the like (not shown).

Play is usually begun by having the dealer pass a shoe (not shown) containing multiple decks of shuffled cards to a player (e.g., beginning with the player in seat number 1). The player in the dealing position must make at least a wager of the minimum table requirement. The bet must be directed to the player's hand or the banker's hand. Since the banker's hand has a higher likelihood of winning, the first player will usually wager on the banker's hand. The shoe is passed to the next player when the first dealer loses a hand or relinquishes the deal.

In traditional baccarat, only two hands are played. One hand is referred to as the banker's hand and the other hand is referred to as the player's hand. The first and third cards are dealt to the caller (a casino operator who calls the cards) and the second and fourth cards are dealt to the banker. All cards are dealt face down. The caller may slide the banker cards to a player (usually the player with the highest wager), although security concerns have limited this courtesy in card play. Both the player's hand and the banker's hand are then passed to the caller. He positions the hands in the appropriate positions 18, 20 on the layout and views the hands. If one hand is a natural (an original two card point count of 8 or 9) and the other hand is not, the hand that is a natural is a winning hand and the bets are paid off at odds of 1:1.

A standard set of draw card rules are summarized in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,171, beginning in Column 1, line 46 and ending in column 2, line 7 and are reproduced below for the convenience of the reader.

“Elaborate rules exist called “third card draw” rules, wherein the banker's hand, the player hand, or both, are required to draw a third card based on the values of the two card hands. Typically, the baccarat third card draw rules are mandatory, and are as follows. If the initial two card player hand has a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the player hand must draw a third card. If the initial two card player hand has a point total of 6-9, the player hand stands and does not receive a third card. If the player hand stands and does not draw a third card, then the bank hand follows the draw rule above. If the player hand draws a third card, then the bank hand must draw or stand as follows. If the bank hand two card point total is 0-2, the bank must always draw. If the bank hand two card point total is 3, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 0-7 or 9, and the bank must stand if the player hand third card is 8. If the bank hand two card point total is 4, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 2-7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0, 1, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 5, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 4-7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0-3, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 6, then the bank hand must draw when the player hand's third card is 6 or 7, and the bank must stand if the player hand's third card is 0-5, 8 or 9. If the bank hand two card point total is 7-9, then the bank always stands.”

Some players may be hesitant to play Baccarat because it appears to be such a simple game and that there is little excitement and no chance for a significant payout on a hand without a large wager being placed.

Numerous variants of Baccarat are known in the art. A few of the variants disclosed in the art are briefly described below.

Three Card Baccarat is a public domain game recently observed at the Wynn Casino in Macao. Each player and the dealer receive exactly three cards. Baccarat rules are used to compare hands, except that the rules are modified. Modifications include: 1. The draw rules of traditional baccarat are eliminated and three cards are initially dealt. 2. Three face cards outranks a 9. 3. Face cards break ties, with two face cards having a higher ranking than one face card. 4. All players receive their own hand. 5. Players may only wager on the player hand. 6. Commissions are paid on winning player hands. 7. All face card combinations are of equal rank.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,837,494 and 6,588,758 (Lee) describes a table and method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game. The method of playing comprises dealing three cards each to both a banker hand and a player hand, with the winning baccarat hand having a higher hand value based on the traditional baccarat scoring system. According to the method, the complex baccarat rules for determining if and when a third card is to be dealt are eliminated. Included is a side bet in which the player has an option to wager on the occurrence that the player hand of three cards or the banker hand of three cards or both the player hand and the banker hand will provide a bonus poker hand of one pair, a three-card flush, a three-card straight, three of a kind, a three-card straight flush and a three-card royal flush comprising an Ace and a King and a Queen of any one suit.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,171 (Mello) describes a method of playing a baccarat-type card game wherein each player is dealt his or her own hand of cards, and each player wagers on either a banker's hand to win, or on the player's own hand to win, or on a tie between the player's own hand and the banker's hand. Unlike standard Baccarat, a 10 value hand beats an 8 or 9. The card game includes the standard baccarat rules of assigning a predetermined value to each card within a standard deck of cards, with an ace through “9” of each suit having values of one through nine respectively and all “10”s and face cards of each suit having a value of zero, and truncating the tens digit to obtain a zero through nine value sum for the player's scores and the banker's score. Unlike conventional baccarat, in the card game a score of ten is awarded to the player's hand or the banker's hand if either contains a combination of any three face cards.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,032,902; 6,637,748 and 6,371,484 (Yuan) describe a game in which players place a base wager on either a first hand or a second hand. Proposition wagers for pushes, ties, and bonus holdings may be placed. Three cards are dealt to a first and a second hand. Either hand may automatically win if it includes a predetermined three-card combination. If neither hand automatically wins, the hands are divided into two-card and single-card component hands. The component hands are compared. A tie occurs if the cards of each component hand are equal in rank. A push occurs if each hand has one component hand that outranks the corresponding component hand. Otherwise, a hand wins when both component hands outrank or tie the corresponding component hands of the other hand. Players wagering on the winning hand are rewarded.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,824 (Selitzky) discloses a bonus method for a casino card game, such as Blackjack or Baccarat, that begins with the player making an ante wager and a first and second bonus wager. The player and dealer are each dealt a hand of cards. The player plays the player's hand to completion and is rewarded based on the player's first bonus wager if the player's hand includes a predetermined bonus combination. The values of the cards are then summed according to the rules of the base game and the player's ante wager is resolved by comparing a player's hand value with the hand value of the dealer and determining which hand is closest to a target value. Finally, the player's second bonus wager is resolved by rewarding the player if the player has won both the base game and the first bonus wager. If the player loses the base game or does not have a bonus combination, the player's second bonus wager is collected.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,012 (Bui et al.) describes a method of playing a three card mini-Baccarat type game. Three cards are dealt to each of a plurality of players and the dealer. The method includes multiple wager options, including the step of placement of a bet that the cumulative value of the three cards of one or more of the plurality of players will exceed the cumulative value of the three cards of the dealer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,306 (Webb) describes a Baccarat derivation with multiple betting options. A table layout includes betting areas for a competition wager that one side or the other will win the game as well as proposition wager areas that one side or the other will win the game by a particular amount or that the sides will tie with a particular amount. As with conventional Baccarat, the players can wager on either hand. The methodology is suited for any game where a result is determined according to numerical values such as Baccarat, Blackjack, War or Dice.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,366,228; 5,496,038 and 5,496,038 (Kangsanaraks) describe a card game for the simultaneous wagering on both the occurrence of a numerically superior hand, as well as the occurrence of a flush or three of a kind during the play of the hand. At least one standard deck of cards is used, with the ace through nine of each suit respectively being valued at one through nine points, and the ten through king of each suit having no value. The object of the game is to arrive at a total point count of nine in the hand of two or three cards, with the player or dealer coming closest to nine, winning the hand; the tens digit is dropped if the cumulative card value exceeds ten. Two cards are initially dealt to the players and dealer, with the dealer's first card being dealt face up. The dealer is limited to inflexible rules governing the drawing of a third card, but the players may draw a third card freely as desired. Wagers may be placed upon the occurrence of a two or three card flush, or three of a kind assuming a player or players draw(s) a third card, in addition to wagering on the outcome of a numerically superior hand i.e., closest to nine. The occurrence of a flush or three of a kind in the dealer's hand effects a payoff of flush or three of a kind hands for the player(s), with the player(s) being required to have exactly nine points under such conditions.

It would be desirable to design and provide additional games, especially baccarat games, which provide good profits for the house and more betting opportunities, while providing players with more exciting play, more variety in play, and an opportunity to obtain greater payouts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards is disclosed. The game includes the following steps. Each player makes an initial Play wager to participate in a three card baccarat game against a dealer hand. Each player and a dealer receive at least three cards, and preferably exactly three cards to form a three card hand. Winning hands are identified by determining a higher numerical ranking hand as between each player and the dealer using modified baccarat rules. One preferred rule change is to provide both hands with three cards, eliminating the hitting rules in conventional baccarat. A second modification of baccarat rules is to provide a mechanism to eliminate all or a portion of ties from the game. One preferred manner of eliminating ties is to designate one or more cards in each deck a tie breaker card, and to use the tie breaker cards to declare a banker or player win when the numerical count of the two hands is equal.

According to the game of the present invention, the numerical values of each card are summed, and the ten digit is ignored to arrive at a total numerical score between zero and 9. When the player and dealer hands numerically tie, ties may be broken by declaring the hand with the greatest number of predetermined tie breaking cards the winner. If neither the player nor dealer holds a tie breaking card, the tie is a push as with conventional baccarat.

According to a preferred form of the invention, the predetermined tie breaking cards are face cards. The tie breaking cards can also be used for other purposes, such as providing premium hands that outrank a 8 or 9 point value hand. According to the invention, three face cards outrank a natural 9 and three Kings outranks all other face cards in the baccarat game.

The remaining rankings are conventional, except that a tie hand with a face card outranks a hand of equal numerical rank without a face card. Similarly, a tie hand with two face cards outranks a tie hand with one face card.

According to an example of the invention, one or more conventional decks of cards are used to play the game. Preferably, between 1 and 8 randomized conventional 52 card decks of cards are delivered to a shoe and are used in the game. Typically 6-8 decks of cards are used. In alternate forms of the invention, the deck may be modified, for example, to adjust the house advantage. The invention contemplates the use of one or more jokers per deck, promotional cards, special purpose cards, no rank cards, no suit cards and no rank or suit cards in addition to the conventional cards or to replace certain cards in the deck. For example, it is contemplated that all face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) be removed and replaced with special cards (i.e. cards bearing a casino logo in two colors) having no suit value and at least two separate ranks to replace the set of Queen-Jack face cards (a first rank) and King face cards (a second and higher rank). The special cards added to replace the face cards may be referred to as a separate or 5^(th) suit of cards.

The present invention is a method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising the step of each player at least making a Play wager to participate in a three card modified baccarat type game against a dealer hand. Each player and a dealer receive at least three cards, and typically just three cards to form a three card hand. In other forms of the invention, the dealer deals a greater number of cards and the player uses the best three cards in the hand. In other embodiments, players may use one or more common cards to form the player hand. “Common cards” for purposes of this disclosure are cards dealt to a central position on the layout that are available for use by all players as part of the player hand. The higher ranking hand is determined as between each player and the dealer using conventional baccarat rules, except that at least two predetermined card combinations are designated to outrank a natural 9. The highest ranking hand is three kings, followed by three face cards (that are not three kings). In addition, certain cards are designated as tie breaking cards. When the player and dealer hands have an equal point value, the presence of tie breaking cards determines the winning hand. In one embodiment, the predetermined card combination is three face value cards. There are two predetermined card combinations that outrank a natural 9, being three face cards, and the highest ranking hand of three kings.

When a higher payout is desirable, the predetermined card combination may instead be three suited kings, three kings of the same color, three one eyed Jacks and other less frequently occurring combinations. It is contemplated to remove one or more face cards from the deck to decrease the likelihood of occurrence of a particular three card hand, i.e. three Kings, and to correspondingly increase the payout odds on that particular combination.

In one form of the invention, the player may only wager on his or her own hand and must pay a commission on all winning play wagers. In other forms of the invention, the odds are adjusted to favor the house using different mechanisms, such as altering payout odds, dealing one or more extra cards to the dealer to make a best 3 card baccarat hand and adding or subtracting certain cards from each deck.

One or more optional side bet wagers may be made. Examples of optional wagers include a bonus wager on the occurrence of at least one predetermined high ranking hand and a side bet on certain tie hands. The ranking system is preferably a modified baccarat ranking system. In one exemplary form of the invention, two top ranking bonus hands exceed the rank of 9. They are three face cards, and three kings, which is the highest hand in the game.

The present invention may also be characterized as a side bet on a base game involving at least one three card player hand playing against a three card dealer hand. The base game may be based on poker, rummy, 21, another baccarat variant or any other game with scoring rules than differ from the rules used to compare baccarat hands. In addition to the player participating in a three card game against a dealer, the player makes an optional side bet of the present invention. Before, during or after the three card bet on the base game is resolved, the side bet wager is considered. A bonus payout is made when the player hand composition includes at least three face cards or a high ranking baccarat hand. According to an embodiment of the bonus game, a hand of three kings outranks a hand of three face cards, and a hand of three face cards outranks a 9, which outranks an 8. All four hands are winning hands according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a variant of the game of baccarat. The game may be played on a table layout 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The layout includes multiple player positions 24. Typical player positions are numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 18. Each player position 24 has an area 26 for playing a player Play wager, bonus wager 30 area and a tie side bet area 32. The layout 20 typically includes an area for a chip tray 28, one numbered area for each player position (collectively shown as 34) for tracking the payment of a commission, and a banker card area 36. In a preferred form of the game, each player receives his or her own hand in his or her own player area 24.

In contrast to a standard baccarat layout as shown in FIG. 1, the areas used to make wagers on the banker hand are removed, because the player is permitted to only play his or her own hand. The player is also permitted to make a number of optional side bets described in more detail below. Wagering area 30 is provided for making a bonus side bet wager, and area 32 is provided for making a side bet on the occurrence of certain predetermined tie hands.

Certain features of the preferred game may be combined with other games and are themselves inventive. For example, the three card tie side bet or the three card bonus side bet may be combined with other three card games where one or more player hands compete against a dealer hand. One such game is a well known casino game marketed under the name Three Card Poker® and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,685,774, 6,056,641, 6,237,916, 6,345,823 and 6,698,759. The entire content of each of the above-identified patents is incorporated by reference.

According to the method, at least one deck of cards is used to play the game. In a first form of the invention, multiple standard 52-card decks are combined and dealt out of a shoe. Typically 8 decks of cards are grouped together and are used to fill a shoe. Most casinos use between 6 and 8 decks of cards in one shoe. The game could also be dealt from a single deck of cards. In other forms of the invention, special decks are used, with cards added, certain cards removed, or both cards added or cards removed. For example, it is contemplated that all of the face value cards are removed, and a 5^(th) suit of replacement cards are added, the 5^(th) suit being of two types of cards. The first type to replaces the King cards 1 for 1, and a second type replaces the Queen and Jack cards, 1 for 1. Such a replacement would not change the statistical advantage of the game, as the number of cards, the purpose of the cards and the frequency of occurrence of the cards remains unchanged. One suitable replacement would be to remove 4 King cards per deck and replace them with 4 cards of a first color, with no rank or suit but with a casino logo, and to removed 4 Queens and 4 Jacks and replace with 8 cards of a second color with no rank or suit but a casino logo. Other suitable decks include at least one joker, multiple jokers, promotional cards, cards bearing no rank value, cards bearing no suit value and cards bearing no rank and suit value

According to the method, each player makes a Play wager to participate in a three card game against a dealer hand. The dealer may deliver hands to the player in the form of individual player hands, a common player hand or a combination of common cards and individual player cards. In one form of the invention, exactly three cards are delivered to each player. In other forms, more cards are delivered to the hands and a best three-card hand is formed. The extra card or cards dealt to the dealer and player hand or hands may be equal or unequal.

A novel ranking system is employed to determine whether the dealer or player hands are higher ranking. A preferred relative ranking system is a modified version of the ranking system of baccarat. In baccarat, the player who obtains a hand closest to 9 wins the game. Each card is assigned a point value, and the sum of the points, disregarding the ten's digit is the final hand value.

The winner of the hand in one form of the invention is determined using modified baccarat rules. When the player and dealer hands numerically tie, a set of tie breaking rules determines whether the tie can be broken. According to the invention, a number of cards in each deck are designated for use as tie breaking cards. Hands that are tied numerically but with a greater number of tie breaking cards wins the hand. In one form of the invention, all face cards (i.e. King, Queen and Jack cards) are used to break ties.

When baccarat rules are used to determine the relative ranking of hands in the base game, it is desirable to designate certain hands with no point value (three face cards) as premium hands. According to a preferred format of the invention, three face cards outranks a natural 9, and three Kings outranks three face cards. Note that in this embodiment, three 10's, or any no point value hand holding a 10 outranks a natural 9.

The present invention is a method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising the steps of: a) each player at least making a Play wager to participate in a three card game against a dealer hand; b) Each player and a dealer receiving at least three cards to form a three card hand; and c) determining a higher numerical ranking hand as between each player and the dealer using modified baccarat rules, wherein at least one predetermined card combination is designated to outrank a point value of 9. In one form of the intention, the predetermined card combination is three face value cards. In one preferred form of the invention, a predetermined card combination is three kings, which outranks three face cards that are not kings.

When the three card game is baccarat, another important variation in the conventional rules of play is that the complicating hit rules are eliminated so that all players and the dealer initially receive three cards each, regardless of rank. Another variation in conventional rules of baccarat is that each player receives his or her own hand. Yet another rule modification is that the player must wager his play wager on his own hand and not the banker hand or on a tie.

When the three card game is a baccarat variant, it is preferable that the player pays a commission on all winning play wagers. The game may be enhanced by offering one or more side bets. The side bets add to the enjoyment of the game and put more bets in action. One optional wager is a bonus wager is made on the occurrence of at least one premium predetermined high ranking hand and another optional bonus wager is made on the occurrence of certain predetermined tie hands.

One example of a suitable bonus wager pay table is shown below.

Hand Payout Odds Three Kings 50:1 Three Face Cards 25:1 Any 9  3:1 Any 8  2:1 In this pay table, three Kings is a premium hand and pays a maximum payout. When higher payout odds are desired, other predetermined card combinations that occur less often may be used such as three suited kings, three kings of one color, or two one eyed jacks, for example.

An example of a suitable pay table for the tie side bet wager is shown below.

Hand Payout Odds 3 Card Copy 50:1 Point + Face Tie 10:1 Point Tie  7:1 A “3 Card Copy” for purposes of this invention is two separate hands of three cards of the same rank, with suit disregarded. In another form of the invention, the suit and rank of each card in the player vs. dealer hands must be identical to declare a 3 Card Copy. A “Point” is a card with a numerical value. For example, an Ace has a numerical value of 1 and a 9 has a numerical value of 9. A “Face Tie” for purposes of this disclosure is two hands with an equal number of face cards. Lastly, a “point tie” is a hand that has the same numerical value. A point tie is two hands with equal numerical value. All tie hands pay according to this example of the present invention. In other examples, only a portion of all possible tie hands pay a payout.

The present invention may also be characterized as a side bet on a three card wagering game. The game comprises the step of a player making a side bet in addition to a play bet in a three card wagering game against a dealer three card hand. The player three card hand against the dealer three card hand is resolved according to the rules of play of the base wagering game. The base wagering game may follow the rules of poker, baccarat, blackjack, rummy, cribbage or any other known card game, and the players and dealer must play with three cards, head to head. The side bet is preferably resolved using a modified baccarat scoring system. That is, the cumulative numerical value of the three-card hands is compared, the ten's are ignored, and the high hand wins. The modifications include the addition of predetermined hand compositions that are unrelated to winning public domain baccarat hands (an 8 or 9 value hand) that exceed a maximum rank of the highest ranking baccarat hands, and the presence of tie breaking cards to break ties on some hands that have equal point values.

A payout is paid to the player on the bonus bet when the player hand is one of the predetermined winning baccarat hand compositions. In a preferred form of the invention, the winning hand compositions in the bonus game are high ranking baccarat hands and hands containing three face cards. In one form of the invention, the base game is also a modified version of baccarat, and a hand of three face cards outranks a highest ranking hand in the three card wagering game against the dealer. In a preferred form of the invention, the predetermined winning bonus hand compositions include either a 8 or 9 natural, any three face cards and three kings. Three kings is the highest hand, with a second highest ranking hand being any three face cards (except three kings), followed by a 9, then an 8. In this example, the 9 and 8 value hands have the same rank and odds payouts regardless of the presence or absence of face cards within the 8 or 9 point value hand. In other embodiments, the presence of one or more face cards with the same numerical value of 8 or 9 provides different payout odds than hands that lack one or more face cards.

In an example of the invention, the dealer deals each player and the dealer exactly 3 playing cards. The dealer may also deal a banker hand instead of a dealer hand, and a player may bank the game.

Exemplary high ranking predetermined hands are three kings (the highest rank hand in the game) and any other three face cards (the second highest ranking hand). All of the predetermined hands in one example of the invention have a ranking exceeding that of a natural 8 or 9. In other examples of the invention, at least one predetermined winning hand has a ranking that is lower than an 8 or a 9 point hand.

In one example of the invention, a tie side wager is provided. It is most preferred that in the base game, the player wagers a Play wager only on his hand, and not on the Banker/Dealer hand or a tie hand. Thus the tie side wager is the only “tie” wager in the game. However, some ties according to a preferred example of the invention are resolved in favor of either the player or the dealer/banker. Other ties push.

According to one embodiment, the tie hand having the same three identical cards as the dealer hand (in rank but not suit) is the highest ranking tie hand. Payouts may also be awarded for other tie hands. For example, a point tie, plus two face card hands in the game will earn a payout in some embodiments. Tie hands with the same number of face cards pays higher odds than a point tie without an equal number of face cards.

In one embodiment, the bonus side bet and tie side bets are optional. In other embodiments, one or more of the bonus and tie side bets are mandatory. In yet other forms of the invention, players may make one or more side bets without placing a wager in the base game.

In a preferred form of the invention, the underlying game wager, or the “play” wager, must be made on the Player's hand. In another embodiment, the play wager may be made on the Banker hand or on a tie hand. When the Play wager is made on the player hand, it is preferred that a commission be paid to the house. An exemplary commission is 5% and is paid by the Play when the player wins Play wager.

According to one form of the invention, at least one player places a mandatory Play Wager. A dealer provides a hand of exactly three cards to each at least one player and the dealer (also referred to as banker), or to a dealer hand position and a common player hand position.

In one example of the invention, the presence of one or more face cards has an impact on the ranking of the base game baccarat hand. Within each possible point total (i.e. 5), a hand with two face cards outranks a hand of one face card, which outranks a hand of no face cards. The face card function within the base game adds additional rankings to the hands, and provides for fewer ties. The only ties possible in one preferred form of the game are when the player and dealer hands tie in point value and no face cards are drawn.

The bonus bet can pay an even money payout, or can pay an odds payout, or a progressive payout, or combinations thereof depending on hand composition. In one preferred form of the invention, the highest ranking bonus hand is three kings, and pays an odds only payout. This rank is the same premium hand that is the highest ranking hand in the base game.

The tie bet may also pay an even money payout, an odds payout, a progressive payout or combinations thereof depending on hand composition. The 3-card copy may be declared regardless of suit, may be suited or may require certain special cards such as one or more one-eyed Jacks. A more preferred copy hand ignores suit. However, since suited copies occur much less frequently, the combination could be used to award a progressive jackpot payout. This type of payout scheme would lend itself to a game in which multiple decks of cards are used, for example, a shoe of 6-8 decks of cards, as is the case with most games of Baccarat.

A lower ranking tie hand may occur when the player and banker hands have an identical point total, and in addition both hands include the same face card, such as a Queen, for example. Or the hands may include the same number of face cards rather than a specific face card.

Although the bonus and tie wagers are intended to be played in connection with the base game described above, embodiments of the invention contemplate allowing a player to make only one or both side bets without making a wager on the base game. If the game rules require the dealer to deal each player his own three card hand, the player of the side bet game would still receive a hand of cards, but the cards would only be used to resolve the side wagers.

The rules of play and wagering options may be varied to provide additional or alternative effects on the game. Among the more novel and effective rules changes are included a rule that the Play Wager may be placed only on the Player hand. This can simplify the underlying wagering structure.

EXAMPLE 1

The base game in the first example is a variant of baccarat. Each player and the dealer receive exactly 3 cards. Players make a mandatory Play wager against the dealer. The scoring system is similar to that of baccarat, except the presence of one or more face cards in a hand is used to break ties. Players 1 and 2 make a $10.00 play wager. Player 1 receives a hand of an Ace of Spades, a Jack of diamonds and a 3 of clubs (point value=4). Player 2 receives a hand of a Queen of Hearts, a 2 of hearts and a 4 of spades (point value=6). The dealer holds a King of hearts, a King of spades and 6 of hearts (point value=6). The dealer point value beats the point value of Player 1 so player 1 loses. Player 2 has a point value of 6, with one face card. The dealer hand point value is a 6, with two face cards so Player 2 also loses to the dealer.

EXAMPLE 2

The base game in this example is also a variant of baccarat. In the base game, three face cards beats a 9 and three Kings beats three face cards. Face cards also break ties. Each player and the dealer receive exactly 3 cards. Players 1 and 2 make a $10.00 play wager against the dealer, and a $1.00 bonus side bet. The side bet is resolved according to the following pay table:

Hand Composition Payout Odds Three Kings 50:1 Three face cards 25:1 Any 9  3:1 Any 8  2:1

Player 1 receives a King of clubs, a Queen of hearts and a Jack of diamonds (point value=0). Player 2 receives a 10 of hearts, a 10 of clubs and a 7 of spades (point value=7). The dealer receives a 2 of hearts, a 4 of diamonds and 3 of spades (point value=9).

Player 1 holds a three face card hand that outranks the dealer's 9 point hand. Player 1 is paid 1:1 on the Play wager. In addition, Player 1 receives 25:1 on the bonus side bet. Player 2 holds a point count of 7, which loses to the dealer's 9. In addition, the player does not hold a winning bonus hand composition. Player 2 loses both bets.

EXAMPLE 3

Players 1 and 2 make a base game bet of $10.00 on a baccarat variant game in which three face cards outranks a highest ranking baccarat hand. In the base game, three face cards outranks a 9 and three Kings outranks three face cards. Player 1 makes the optional tie bet wager in the amount of $5.00. Player 2 does not make the optional tie bet wager. The tie bets are resolved according to the following pay table:

Hand Payout Odds Three Card Copy 50:1 Point and Face Card Tie 10:1 Point tie  7:1

Player 1 is dealt a King of Hearts, a King of Spades and a 3 of diamonds (point count=3). Player 2 is dealt a Queen of Hearts, Jack of Spades and 4 of clubs (point count=4). The dealer is dealt a King of Hearts, a King of spades and a 3 of diamonds (point count=3). Player 1 has a hand with a point total of three, as does the Dealer. Both hands have an equal number of face cards so the play wager pushes. Player 1, having made the tie wager, has a three card copy. Player 1 is paid 50:1 on the $5 tie wager.

EXAMPLE 4

Players 1 and 2 make a base game bet of $20.00 on a base game of three card blackjack variant. According to the rules of play of the base game, the player and dealer receive two cards. Both players and the dealer must take a third card if the first two cards do not make a blackjack. Three face cards outranks a blackjack or a three card 21. Three Kings outranks three face cards. A point total in excess of 21 busts and the high hand wins. Both players make an optional bonus side bet on the occurrence of a premium baccarat-type hand, an all-face hand, or a high ranking baccarat hand with face cards.

Player 1 is dealt a hand of 3 of clubs, and a 4 of aces. He is required to take a hit card, which is a 10, for a total blackjack hand equal to 17. Player 2 is dealt a hand of a 7 of clubs, and a 7 of hearts. Since his initial hand is not blackjack, he must take a third card, which is a 7 of spades, for a blackjack hand of 21. The dealer receives three Kings. Player 1 loses the blackjack hand to the dealer. Player 2 loses the blackjack hand against the dealer because three Kings outranks a blackjack.

Player 1 loses the bonus bet because his hand is not an 8, 9, three face cards or three Kings. Player 2 loses the bonus bet for the same reason.

EXAMPLE 5

In this example, the base game is a modified version of Three Card Poker. Known three card rankings are used to score the game, except that three face cards outranks a royal flush (Ace-King-Queen). Players 1 and 2 each wager $10.00 on the Play wager and $5.00 on the bonus bet and are dealt three cards each. The dealer receives three cards. Player 1 is dealt a hand of a 3 of hearts, 6 of diamonds and 10 of spades. Player 2 receives an Ace of Hearts, a 7 of clubs and a 7 of spades. The dealer receives three Kings. Player 1 holds a 10 high. The dealer's three of a kind beats the player hand and the player loses the play wager. Player two holds a pair. The dealer's three of a kind beats the pair and Player 2 loses his play wager. Player 1 holds a 9 point baccarat hand with no face cards. The bonus wager pays 3:1 or $15.00. Player 2 holds a baccarat hand of 5. This point count does not pay a bonus.

EXAMPLE 6

In this example, the base game is a modified version of baccarat, and the bonus game has a progressive payout component. A progressive payout is made when the player receives 3 suited Kings. Players 1 and 2 make a Play wager of $10.00. Player 1 does not make a bonus side bet. Player 2 makes a $1.00 progressive bonus side bet. Player 1 receives an 8 of hearts, a 10 of clubs and a 10 of spades. Player 2 receives three Kings of Hearts. The Dealer receives a Queen of diamonds, a Queen of clubs and a jack.

Player 1 holds a point count of 8 with no face cards. The dealer holds three face cards and beats Player 1. Player 2 holds three Kings of Hearts. This hand beats the dealer hand of three face cards. Player 2 wins odds of 1:1 on the Play wager. Player 2 also wins 100% of the progressive jackpot for holding three suited Kings.

EXAMPLE 7

In this example, the base game is a modified version of baccarat and the tie side bet game has a progressive component. A progressive payout is made when the suits of the three card copy match. Players 1 and 2 make $10.00 wagers on the base game. Player 1 makes a $1.00 side bet. Player 2 does not make a side wager. Player 1 receives a hand of Ace of spades, Jack of clubs and 8 of diamonds. Player 2 receives an 8 of hearts, a 10 of diamonds and a 10 of clubs. The dealer receives a hand of the Ace of spades, jack of clubs and 8 of diamonds. Player 1 has a point total of 9, with one face card. The dealer holds a hand of cards with a point total of 9, and one face card. The play wager is a push. The player wins a 100% progressive payout because the player and dealer hands are a suited 3 card copy. That is, each suit and rank of each card is a complete match.

Player 2 has a point total of 8, which loses to the dealer. Player 2 did not make a tie wager and the game is concluded.

The amount of any Progressive Jackpot is increased by at least a portion of the side bet wager, as is understood in the art and decremented by awards, as is also understood in the art. Some alternative betting arrangements and progressive incrementing and decrementing is discussed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/598,924, filed on Nov. 13, 2006, titled: “GAME OF CHANCE WITH AT LEAST THREE BASE WAGERS AND OPTIONAL BONUS WAGER,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

Although specific examples are provided in the description of play for the game technology, these examples are representative of generic concepts and the examples are not to be interpreted as limiting the generic scope of the technology. The game may, for example, be played as a live casino table card game, a hybrid casino table card game (with at least one of wagers, playing cards, but not both, being performed in electronic context), a video electronic format, a multiplayer platform electronic format (as described in Published US Patents Applications 2005024506; 20050164762; and 20050164759, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

One example of a suitable multiple player gaming platform is Shuffle Master, Inc.'s Table Master™ gaming platform. This platform is a video gaming machine with multiple player stations and at least one processor for administering the game. Players play on credit, and a virtual dealer may be provided to create the illusion that the game is attended by a dealer. A central processor administers the game. Each player station has player controls and a display allowing the player to view the virtual player hand, credits wagered, credit available and other conventional information. A common display allows each player to view the dealer hand, amounts wagered and other information needed to convey the progress of the game to the player. Optionally, an upright video display is provided which displays a virtual dealer that creates the illusion of administering the game.

The present game may be executed on a multi-player platform or single player video gaming machine such as a conventional video poker machine. Other media may be used to offer the game, including on-line gaming, internet gaming, practice play gaming on known computerized gaming platforms such as X-Box, Nintendo, practice play on a personal computer, on board games, parlor games and the like. What is meant by “practice play” is that no actual monetary wagers are made. The player is awarded a certain number of credits and may play as long as credits are available. When the credit is depleted, the player simply replenishes the credit supply and continues to play.

The above description is meant to provide only examples of preferred embodiments and is not intended to limit the sprit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player making a Play wager to participate in a three card baccarat game against a dealer hand; each player optionally making a bonus side bet wager on the occurrence of at least one predetermined winning three card bonus baccarat hand, the winning baccarat hand having a rank of at least one of an 8, 9 or three face cards; each player and a dealer receiving at least three cards to form a three card hand; determining a higher numerical ranking hand as between each player and the dealer using modified baccarat rules; and paying players a payout who placed an optional bonus side bet wager and received a predetermined winning three card bonus baccarat hand.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified baccarat rules include breaking ties by designating hands with a greatest number of predetermined tie breaking cards a winning hand.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified baccarat rules include providing that three face cards outranks a
 9. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified baccarat rules include providing that three Kings outranks three face cards.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein payouts on the optional bonus side bet wager are paid according to the following payout schedule: Hand Payout Odds Three Kings 50:1 Three Face Cards 25:1 Any 9  3:1 Any 8  2:1


6. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined tie breaking cards are face cards.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein between 1 and 8 decks of cards are used in the game.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein each deck is selected from the group consisting of conventional decks, decks including at least one joker, promotional cards, cards bearing no rank value, cards bearing no suit value and cards bearing no rank and suit value
 9. A method of playing a wagering game using at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player at least making a Play wager to participate in a three card game against a dealer hand; each player and a dealer receiving exactly three cards to form a three card hand; determining a higher ranking hand as between each player and the dealer using modified baccarat rules, wherein three face cards outranks a 9 and three kings outranks three face cards.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein three suited kings outranks three kings.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the player pays a commission on all winning play wagers.
 12. The method of claim 9, and further comprising a player placing at least one optional bonus wager selected from the group consisting of a bonus wager on the occurrence of at least one predetermined high ranking bonus hand and a tie wager on the occurrence of at least one predetermined winning tie hand.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined high ranking bonus hands and corresponding payout odds are: Hand Payout Odds Three Kings 50:1 Three Face Cards 25:1 Any 9  3:1 Any 8  2:1


14. The method of claim 12, wherein payouts on the tie wager are made according to the following pay table: Hand Payout Odds 3 Card Copy 50:1 Point + Face Tie 10:1 Point Tie  7:1


15. A bonus side bet on a three card wagering game, comprising: A player making a bonus side bet in addition to or instead of a play bet in a three card wagering game against a dealer three card hand; A dealer dealing at least three cards to at least one player and at least three cards to the dealer; The dealer and players forming a hand of exactly three cards; When the player has placed a play bet, resolving the play bet by comparing the player three card hand to the dealer three card hand and resolving the hands according to the rules of play of the base wagering game; and Paying a bonus payout to the player when the player hand contains one of a plurality of predetermined winning baccarat hands, the predetermined winning hands including at least an 8 point total, a 9 point total and three face cards.
 16. The side bet of claim 15, and further comprising a predetermined winning hand of three Kings.
 17. The side bet of claim 16, wherein a hand of three kings outranks all other hands of three face cards.
 18. The side bet of claim 15, wherein all hands of three face cards except for three kings have an equal rank.
 19. The side bet of claim 15, wherein the predetermined winning hands and payout odds are as follows: Hand Payout Odds Three Kings 50:1 Three Face Cards 25:1 Any 9  3:1 Any 8  2:1


20. The side bet of claim 15, wherein the three card wagering game against the dealer is selected from the group consisting of: three card baccarat and three card poker. 